AGE. The time when the law allows persons to do acts which, for want of
years, they were prohibited from doing before. See Coop. Justin. 446.
2. For males, before they arrive at fourteen years they are said not to
be of discretion; at that age they may consent to marriage and choose a
guardian. Twenty-one years is full age for all private purposes, and the may
then exercise their rights as citizens by voting for public officers; and
are eligible to all offices, unless otherwise provided for in the
constitution. At 25, a man may be elected a representative in Congress; at
30, a senator; and at 35, he may be chosen president of the United States.
He is liable to serve in the militia from 18 to 45. inclusive, unless
exempted for some particular reason.
3. As to females, at 12, they arrive at years of discretion and may
consent to marriage; at 14, they may choose a guardian; and 21, as in males,
is fun Age, when they may exercise all the rights which belong to their sex.
4. In England no one can be chosen member of parliament till he has
attained 21 years; nor be ordained a priest under the age of 24; nor made a
bishop till he has completed his 30th year. The age of serving in the
militia is from 16 to 45 years.
5. By the laws of France many provisions are made in respect to age,
among which are the following. To be a member of the legislative body, the
person must have attained 40 years; 25, to be a judge of a tribunal de
remiere instance; 27, to be its president, or to be judge or clerk of a
court royale ; 30, to be its president or procurer general; 25, to be a
justice of the peace; 30, to be judge of a tribunal of commerce, and 35, to
be its president; 25, to be a notary public; 21, to be a testamentary
witness; 30, to be a juror. At 16, a minor may devise one half of his,
property as if he were a major. A male cannot contract marriage till after
the 18th year, nor a female before full 15 years. At 21, both males and
females are capable to perform all the act's of civil life. Toull. Dr. Civ.
Fr. Liv. 1, Intr. n. 188.
6. In the civil law, the age of a man was divided as follows: namely,
the infancy of males extended to the full accomplishment of the 14th year;
at 14, he entered the age of puberty, and was said to have acquired full
puberty at 18 years accomplished, and was major on completing his 25th year.
A female was an infant til 7 years; at 12, she entered puberty, and acquired
full puberty at 14; she became of fall age on completing her 25th year.
Lecons Elem. du Dr. Civ. Rom. 22.
See Com. Dig. Baron and Feme, B 5, Dower, A, 3, Enfant, C 9, 10, 11, D
3, Pleader, 2 G 3, 2 W 22, 2 Y 8; Bac. Ab. Infancy and Age; 2 Vin. Ab. 131;
Constitution of the United States; Domat. Lois Civ. tome 1, p. 10; Merlin,
Repert. de Jurisp. mot Age; Ayl. Pand. 62; 1 Coke Inst. 78; 1 Bl. Com. 463.
See Witness.

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